Image forming apparatus and body of image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an apparatus body, a cap, and an operation part. The image forming device includes an image forming face configured to face a recording medium. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the recording medium. The apparatus body is configured to support the image forming device. The cap is movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face. The operation part is configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position. The operation part is not operable by a force from an object on which the apparatus body is placed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-020715, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an image forming apparatus and a body of an image forming apparatus.

Related Art

There is known a portable image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium with an image forming face of an image forming device facing the recording medium.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a novel image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an apparatus body, a cap, and an operation part. The image forming device includes an image forming face configured to face a recording medium. The image forming device is configured to form an image on the recording medium. The apparatus body is configured to support the image forming device. The cap is movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face. The operation part is configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position. The operation part is not operable by a force from an object on which the apparatus body is placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the embodiments and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a main body of a hand-held-mobile-type inkjet printer (HMP) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from diagonally above with a cap located at a capping position;

FIG. 1B is an external perspective view of the main body of the HMP of FIG. 1A, as viewed from diagonally above with the cap located at a retracted position;

FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the main body of the HMP, as viewed from a bottom face side (i.e., recording face side) of the main body with the cap located at the capping position;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the main body of the HMP, as viewed from the bottom face side (i.e., recording face side) of the main body with the cap located at the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a state in which an image is formed on a recording material with the main body of the HMP;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a part of an electric circuit of the main body of the HMP, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the HMP along a line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with a capping operation device located at a holding position;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the HMP along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device located at a non-holding position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cap and the main body of the HMP, illustrating a position at which the cap abuts on the main body of the HMP as the cap moves to the retracted position;

FIG. 7A is a side view of the main body of the HMP, illustrating an unlocked state of an operation portion;

FIG. 7B is a side view of the main body of the HMP, illustrating a locked state of the operation portion;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the HMP along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device located at the holding position in the unlocked state;

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the HMP along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device located at the non-holding position in the unlocked state;

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the HMP along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device located at the holding position in the locked state;

FIG. 9A is an illustration of a length of a cap changeable in a longitudinal direction of the cap, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9B is another illustration of the length of the cap of FIG. 9A changeable in the longitudinal direction of the cap.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of the present specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.

Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and not all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of the present disclosure are indispensable to the present disclosure.

In a later-described comparative example, embodiment, and exemplary variation, for the sake of simplicity, like reference numerals are given to identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts and materials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted unless otherwise required.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below.

A description is now given of an embodiment of the present disclosure applied to a hand-held-mobile-type inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as an HMP) serving as a portable image forming apparatus, which is one of image forming apparatuses as goods.

Initially with reference to FIGS. 1A to 2B, a description is now given of a basic configuration of a main body (or an apparatus body) of an HMP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are external perspective views of a main body 1 (serving as an apparatus body) of an HMP 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from diagonally above.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are bottom views of the main body 1, as viewed from a bottom face side (i.e., recording face side) of the main body 1.

According to the present embodiment, the main body 1 includes an upper unit 2 and a lower unit 3 as main components of the main body 1. The main body 1 is substantially cubic as a whole. The main body 1 has a length in a scanning direction enough for a user to grasp with a palm. Note that the scanning direction is a printing direction, which is a direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 1A and 1B or a direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow X in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The direction indicated by arrow X is herein referred to as an X direction, whereas the direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow X is herein referred to as a −X direction.

A housing of the main body 1 includes a recording face 30 (serving as a bottom face), a top face 31 opposite the recording face 30, a left side face 32, and a right side face 33. The recording face 30 serves as an opposite face that causes a recording device 41 (serving as an image forming device) of an inkjet head 40 described later to face a recording material such as a recording sheet. The left side face 32 and the right side face 33 extend on sides in the scanning direction of the recording face 30. The housing of the main body 1 also has a back face 34 and the front face 35 both extending on sides in a scanning orthogonal direction of the recording face 30. The scanning orthogonal direction is a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction and indicated by arrow Y in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Note that the direction indicated by arrow Y is herein referred to as a Y direction. The main body 1 is generally used in posture directing the recording face 30 vertically downward (i.e., in a direction opposite a direction indicated by arrow Z in FIGS. 1A and 1B) with respect to the XY plane in FIGS. 1A and 1B, while directing the top face 31 vertically upward (i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow Z in FIGS. 1A and 1B). Note that the direction indicated by arrow Z is herein referred to as a Z direction, whereas the direction opposite the direction indicated by arrow Z is herein referred to as a −Z direction.

The top face 31 is provided with a print button 14 and a power button 15. The left side face 32 of the upper unit 2 is provided with a universal serial bus (USB) connection port 6. The USB connection port 6 is used to connect a USB cable to the main body 1. When electric power is supplied from an external power supply to a rechargeable battery mounted in the main body 1 via the USB cable connected to the USB connection port 6, the battery is charged.

A wide portion 21 of the upper unit 2 is located on a side of the lower unit 3 closer to the front face 35. The wide portion 21 is wider than a narrow portion 37 of the lower unit 3. A user holds and uses the main body 1 with fingers (usually, the thumb and the middle finger or the ring finger) touching the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of the narrow portion 37 of the lower unit 3. When using the main body 1, that is, when moving the main body 1 in the scanning direction on a surface of a recording material to form an image on the recording material, the user place the fingers on the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 so as to sandwich the lower unit 3 with the wrist located closer to the wide portion 21, thus holding the main body 1.

The user holds down the power button 15 to switch the power of the main body 1 between ON and OFF. With the power turned on, a control board mounted in the upper unit 2 of the main body 1 acquires image information by wireless communication with, e.g., a smartphone. After the user places the main body 1 on the surface of the recording material with the recording face 30 facing the surface of the recording material, the user presses the print button 14 once and moves the main body 1 in the −X direction as a scanning direction as illustrated in FIG. 3 to form an image on a surface of a recording material P. Note that when the main body 1 reciprocates along the scanning direction during manual scanning, the main body 1 forms an image on the surface of the recording material in each of the outward path and the return path.

The recording material P, serving as a recording medium, is not limited to paper such as a sheet of paper. The recording material P may be any image forming object, such as an overhead projector (OHP) transparency, cloth, a corrugated cardboard, a packaging container, glass, or a substrate.

In the main body 1 of the present embodiment, the upper unit 2 is supported by the lower unit 3 so as to open and close with respect to the lower unit 3. An ink tank-integrated inkjet head 40, which is an ink cartridge and includes the recording device 41 and an ink tank as an integral part, is removably mounted inside the lower unit 3 (as described later with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B). The recording device 41 that discharges ink droplets faces vertically downward. The inkjet head 40 discharges ink droplets from the recording device 41 to record an image, thus forming an image.

The recording face 30 of the main body 1 is provided with an opening 30 a through which the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40 mounted in the lower unit 3 is exposed outside, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40 includes a plurality of discharge orifices 41 a serving as nozzles. Piezoelectric elements are driven to discharge ink droplets from the individual discharge orifices 41 a.

As a drive source for discharging ink, the inkjet head 40 employs, e.g., an electromechanical conversion element, such as a piezoelectric actuator, using a laminated piezoelectric element or a thin-film piezoelectric element, an electrothermal conversion element such as a heat generating resistor, or an electrostatic actuator including diaphragm plates and opposed electrodes.

The ink (or liquid) discharged from the discharge orifices 41 a of the recording device 41 is not particularly limited provided that the ink has a viscosity or surface tension enough to be discharged from discharge orifices 41 a. However, preferably, the viscosity of the ink is not greater than 30 mPa·s under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling. Specific examples of the ink (or liquid) include, but are not limited to, a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion including, e.g., a solvent such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant such as dye or pigment, a functional material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), amino acid, protein, or calcium, and an edible material such as a natural colorant. Such a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion may be used for, e.g., an inkjet ink, a surface treatment solution, a liquid for forming components of an electronic element or a light-emitting element or forming a resist pattern of an electronic circuit, or a material solution for three-dimensional fabrication. The recording face 30 is provided with a position detection sensor 59 and four rollers, namely, a first left roller 17 a, a second left roller 17 b, a first right roller 18 a, and a second right roller 18 b. The position detection sensor 59 serves as a position detector that detects the position of the main body 1 on a recording material.

When a user moves the main body 1 in the scanning direction, the four rollers roll in contact with the surface of the recording material. The four rollers allow the user to move the main body 1 straight along the scanning direction. The four rollers also allow the main body 1 to reciprocate in the scanning direction. When the main body 1 moves, only the four rollers of the main body 1 contact the surface of the recording material and the surface of a table on which the recording material is placed, while keeping a given distance between the recording face 30 and the surface of the recording material. That is, the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40 keeps a constant distance from the surface of the recording material to form a desired high-quality image.

The position detection sensor 59 is a sensor that detects, e.g., the distance to the surface of the recording material, the surface state (e.g., irregularities) of the recording material, and the distance of movement of the main body 1. For example, the position detection sensor 59 may be similar to a sensor used in an optical mouse (as a pointing device) for a personal computer. The position detection sensor 59 irradiates, with light, a place (i.e., recording material) on which the main body 1 is placed, to read the state of the irradiated place as a “pattern”. The position detection sensor 59 continuously detects how the “pattern” moves with respect to the movement of the position detection sensor 59, thus calculating an amount of movement.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a part of an electric circuit of the main body 1. A control board 57 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 55 that performs various arithmetic processes and executes programs, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) board (Bt board) 52 for short-range wireless communication, a random access memory (RAM) 53 that temporarily stores data, a read only memory (ROM) 54, and a recording controller 56. The control board 57 is fixed at a position on the back side of the USB connection port 6 in a hollow space of the upper unit 2.

The Bt board 52 performs data communication by short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication) with an external device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The ROM 54 stores, e.g., firmware for hardware control of the main body 1 and drive waveform data of the inkjet head 40. The recording controller 56 executes data processing for driving the inkjet head 40 and generates drive waveforms.

The control board 57 is electrically connected to a gyro sensor 58, the position detection sensor 59, a capping sensor 60, a light emitting diode (LED) lamp 14 a, the inkjet head 40, the print button 14, the power button 15, and a battery 51.

The gyro sensor 58 detects the tilt and rotation angle of the main body 1 and transmits the result of detection to the control board 57. The LED lamp 14 a is disposed inside an exterior cover made of a light transmissive material of the print button 14 and causes the print button 14 to emit light.

When the power button 15 is pressed to turn on the power of the main body 1, the power is supplied to each module. The CPU 55 starts a starting operation according to a program stored in the ROM 54 to load the program and data into the RAM 53. When receiving image data from an external device by short-range wireless communication, the recording controller 56 generates a drive waveform corresponding to the received image data. The recording controller 56 then controls the discharge of ink from the inkjet head 40 so as to form an image corresponding to a position on the surface of a recording material detected by the position detection sensor 59.

During acquisition of image data by short-range wireless communication from an external device, the control board 57 causes the LED lamp 14 a to blink. Thus, the light-transmissive print button 14 emits light and blinks. Thereafter, when the acquisition of the image data is completed, the control board 57 continuously lights the LED lamp 14 a to cause the print button 14 to continuously emit light. As the print button 14 continuously emits light, a user ascertains that the main body 1 has finished acquiring the image data. Therefore, the user places the main body 1 on a recording material and presses the print button 14.

On the other hand, after starting the continuous lighting control of the LED lamp 14 a, the control board 57 waits for the print button 14 to be pressed. When the print button 14 is pressed, the control board 57 causes the LED lamp 14 a to blink. That is, the control board 57 causes the print button 14 to emit light and blink. As the print button 14 blinks, the user starts moving the main body 1 in the scanning direction. In other words, the user starts manual scanning.

When finishing moving the main body 1, in other words, when finishing the manual scanning, the user presses the print button 14 again. In response to the print button 14 being pressed, the control board 57 turns off the LED lamp 14 a to stop the light emission of the print button 14. In a case in which the user picks up the main body 1 from the recording material and places the main body 1 as is on, e.g., a desktop without pressing the print button 14, the position detection sensor 59 stops detecting the position when the user picks up the main body 1 from the recording material. The control board 57 turns off the LED lamp 14 a at the time when the position detection sensor 59 stops detecting the position, thus stopping the light emission of the print button 14.

Note that the user does not need to keep pressing the print button 14 during manual scanning. In a case in which the user presses and releases the print button 14 prior to the manual scanning, the image forming operation based on the result of the detection made by the position detection sensor 59 is continued until the image formation is completed, until the print button 14 is pressed again, until the position detection sensor 59 stops detecting the position, or until the position detection sensor 59 detects that the main body 1 is separated from the recording material by a given distance or more.

In the main body 1 of the present embodiment, the first left roller 17 a and the second left roller 17 b of a roller unit 17 and the first right roller 18 a and the second right roller 18 b of a roller unit 18 are disposed at positions deviating from the position of the recording device 41 in the scanning orthogonal direction. The first left roller 17 a, the second left roller 17 b, the first right roller 18 a, and the second right roller 18 b thus disposed do not contact an image formed on a recording material during movement of the main body 1. In short, the first left roller 17 a, the second left roller 17 b, the first right roller 18 a, and the second right roller 18 b do not disturb the image formed on the recording material.

Now, a description is given of a configuration and operation of a cap 10, which is a feature of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to the present embodiment, a cap 10 is attached to the main body 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, to cap a nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41. The nozzle face 41 b, serving as an image forming face, is a surface of a nozzle plate having discharge orifices 41 a. The cap 10 includes a planar portion 10 a that faces the recording face 30 of the main body 1 when the cap 10 is located at a capping position as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The planar portion 10 a includes a capping section 10 a 1 that adheres to the nozzle face 41 b and covers the discharge orifices 41 a when the cap 10 is located at the capping position.

The cap 10 further includes a side wall portion 10 b erected on a planar face 10 aF of the planar portion 10 a as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Such a configuration enhances the rigidity of the cap 10 (mainly, the rigidity against the bending of the planar portion 10 a) as compared with the configuration of a cap that simply includes the planar portion 10 a without the side wall portion 10 b. The side wall portion 10 b of the present embodiment has an advantage of reducing the length in the Y direction of an exposed gap, serving as a communication passage with the outside, between the recording face 30 of the main body 1 and the planar portion 10 a of the cap 10 when the cap 10 is located at the capping position to cap the nozzle face 41 b of the recording face 30 of the main body 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Accordingly, the side wall portion 10 b of the present embodiment prevents foreign matter such as dust or dirt from invading and adhering to the recording device 41 (specifically, the nozzle face 41 b and the discharge orifices 41 a) of the inkjet head 40 and the position detection sensor 59 of the main body 1.

The cap 10 is movable, relative to the main body 1, between the capping position to cap the nozzle face 41 b as illustrated in FIG. 1A and a retracted position to be retracted from the nozzle face 41 b as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Specifically, the cap 10 is rotatably attached to a shaft 11 disposed on the main body 1.

A biasing device 12 keeps supplying a biasing force to the cap 10 to urge the cap 10 to move in a direction from the capping position illustrated in FIG. 1A to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1B. Accordingly, the biasing force of the biasing device 12 rotates the cap 10 to a position at which the cap 10 abuts on the main body 1 and holds the cap 10 at the position (i.e., retracted position).

The retracted position is located on a side of the main body 1 in the scanning orthogonal direction, not on a side of the main body 1 in the scanning direction. At the retracted position, the cap 10 does not contact a recording material. Therefore, the cap 10 located at the retracted position does not disturb the manual scanning with the main body 1 along the surface of the recording material in the scanning direction. According to the present embodiment, the cap 10 located at the retracted position does not disturb a user when the user holds the main body 1, because the cap 10 is located closer to the back face 34 of the main body 1, that is, closer to the fingertips of the user than to the wrist of the user.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the main body 1 along a line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A.

In the present embodiment, a capping operation device 13 is disposed on each of the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of the main body 1. The capping operation device 13 is attached to the lower unit 3 of the main body 1 rotatably about a shaft O. A compression spring 13 c serving as a biasing device urges the capping operation device 13 to rotate in a direction from a non-holding position illustrated in FIG. 5B to a holding position illustrated in FIG. 5A.

A lower end portion of the capping operation device 13 serves as a holder that holds the cap 10 at the capping position illustrated in FIG. 5A. Specifically, the lower end portion of the capping operation device 13 is a claw 13 a that fits into a holding opening 10 b 1 in the side wall portion 10 b of the cap 10. The claw 13 a of the capping operation device 13 fitting into the holding opening 10 b 1 of the cap 10 hampers the biasing force of the biasing device 12 and prevents the cap 10 from moving from the capping position illustrated in FIG. 1A to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1B, thus holding the cap 10 at the capping position.

The compression spring 13 c urges the capping operation device 13 in a direction in which the claw 13 a fits into the holding opening 10 b 1 of the cap 10. Therefore, the claw 13 a does not easily come off from the holding opening 10 b 1, thus stably holding the cap 10 at the capping position.

When the cap 10 is located at the capping position, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the capping section 10 a 1 of the cap 10 adheres to the nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40 and covers the discharge orifices 41 a on the nozzle face 41 b. In short, the cap 10 is in a capping state at the capping position. The cap 10 in the capping state protects the nozzle face 41 b and the discharge orifices 41 a and prevents drying of the ink in the discharge orifices 41 a.

In the present embodiment, the capping operation devices 13 releases the cap 10 when each upper end portion (i.e., operation part 13 b) of the two capping operation devices 13 disposed on the left side face 32 and the right side face 33, respectively, of the main body 1 is pushed toward the main body 1. Specifically, when the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is pushed toward the main body 1, the capping operation device 13 rotates about the shaft O against the biasing force of the compression spring 13 c from the holding position illustrated in FIG. 5A to the non-holding position illustrated in FIG. 5B. As a consequence, the claw 13 a of the capping operation device 13 is disengaged from the holding opening 10 b 1 of the cap 10. Thus, the capping operation device 13 releases the cap 10.

When the capping operation device 13 releases the cap 10, the biasing force of the biasing device 12 moves the cap 10 from the capping position illustrated in FIG. 1A to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1B. When the cap 10 rotates and reaches the position at which the cap 10 abuts on the back face 34 of the main body 1, the cap 10 remains in contact with the back face 34 of the main body 1 due to the biasing force of the biasing device 12, thus being held at the position (i.e., retracted position). In order to alleviate the impact when the cap 10 abuts on the back face 34 of the main body 1, a cushion 50 such as rubber may be disposed on a contact portion B as illustrated in FIG. 6. The contact portion B includes at least one of a contact portion of the cap 10 that contacts the main body 1 and a contacted portion of the main body 1 that the cap 10 contacts.

In the present embodiment, in order to return the cap 10 from the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1B to the capping position illustrated in FIG. 1A, a user rotates the cap 10 about the shaft 11 toward the capping position against the biasing force of the biasing device 12. At this time, since the capping operation devices 13 is located at the holding position by the biasing force of the compression spring 13 c, the side wall portion 10 b of the cap 10 having the holding opening 10 b 1 hits the claw 13 a of the capping operation devices 13.

In the present embodiment, a wall surface of the claw 13 a hit by the side wall portion 10 b of the cap 10 is a slope as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As the cap 10 is further rotated toward the capping position even after the side wall portion 10 b of the cap 10 hits the slope of the claw 13 a, the side wall portion 10 b slides on the slope of the claw 13 a and rotates the capping operation devices 13 from the holding position illustrated in FIG. 5A to the non-holding position illustrated in FIG. 5B against the biasing force of the compression spring 13 c. As the cap 10 is rotated until the side wall portion 10 b exceeds the slope of the claw 13 a, the cap 10 reaches the capping position at which the claw 13 a of the capping operation device 13 fits into the holding opening 10 b 1 of the cap 10. Thus, the cap 10 is held at the capping position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a user simply rotates the cap 10 from the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1B to the capping position illustrated in FIG. 1A to return the cap 10 to the capping position and hold the cap 10 at the capping position.

In the present embodiment, the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 used to move the cap 10 from the capping position to the retracted position is provided on each of the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of outer wall faces of the main body 1 other than the bottom face (i.e., recording face 30) that faces a recording material at the time of image formation. Therefore, even in a case in which the main body 1 is placed on, e.g., a table with the recording face 30 facing downward, the operation part 13 b does not contact the table surface. Accordingly, the operation part 13 b is not operated unintentionally. That is, even in a case in which the main body 1 is placed on, e.g., a table with the recording face 30 facing downward, the cap 10 is stably held at the capping position. Accordingly, the capping section 10 a 1 of the cap 10 keeps capping the nozzle face 41 b.

A typical portable image forming apparatus is not easy to use because the capping is released simply by placing the apparatus body on something with the bottom face facing down.

By contrast, in the present embodiment, a user places the main body 1 on something with the recording face 30 facing downward without any problems when the user does not form an image with the HMP 100. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the HMP 100 is provided as a user-friendly apparatus.

The operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 may be disposed on the top face 31, the back face 34, or the front face 35 of the main body 1. Preferably, however, the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is disposed on each of the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of the main body 1 as in the present embodiment. A user places fingers (usually, the thumb and the middle finger or the ring finger) on the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of the main body 1 to hold and use the main body 1. While holding the main body 1 in this manner for image formation, the user sandwiches the respective operation parts 13 b of the two capping operation devices 13 from outside to operate the operation parts 13 b with the fingers. Accordingly, when the user moves the cap 10 from the capping position to the retracted position to use the main body 1 for image formation, the user does not need to hold the main body 1 with the other hand or change the way of holding the main body 1. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the HMP 100 is provided as a user-friendly apparatus.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is arranged such that the position of the operation part 13 b on each of the left side face 32 and the right side face 33 of the main body 1 overlaps or is identical to the position of the nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40 in the scanning orthogonal direction, which is a direction parallel to the recording face 30 of the main body 1. Specifically, in the scanning orthogonal direction, the respective operation parts 13 b of the capping operation devices 13 are arranged in a range C illustrated in FIG. 2B corresponding to a range of the width (i.e., length in the scanning orthogonal direction) of a line of the discharge orifices 41 a on the nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40.

In the present embodiment, when a user places the main body 1 on a recording material and starts image formation, the recording face 30 of the main body 1 is hidden and invisible to the user, hampering the user in confirming the location of the nozzle face 41 b on the recording face 30, that is, the location of the discharge orifices 41 a. In short, the user has some difficulties in confirming the position, in the scanning orthogonal direction, of the image to be formed on the recording material before starting the image formation. In the present embodiment, the respective operation parts 13 b of the capping operation devices 13 are arranged in the range C of the width (i.e., length in the scanning orthogonal direction) of the line of the discharge orifices 41 a, that is, the maximum range in which the image is formed. Since the operation parts 13 b are disposed on the left side face 32 and the right side face 33, respectively, of the main body 1, the user can see the operation parts 13 b when the user places the main body 1 on the recording material and starts image formation. Such a configuration allows the user to confirm the position, in the scanning orthogonal direction, of the image to be formed on the recording material with reference to the position of the operation parts 13 b in the scanning orthogonal direction.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the range C of the width (i.e., length in the scanning orthogonal direction) of the line of the discharge orifices 41 a matches the maximum width (i.e., length in the Y direction) of the respective operation parts 13 b of the capping operation devices 13. In this case, the user can more reliably confirm the range in which the image is formed on the recording material.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, a detection face 59 a, as a sensing face, of the position detection sensor 59 that detects the position of the main body 1 on a recording material is arranged on the recording face 30 of the main body 1 on which the nozzle face 41 b is also arranged. The position detection sensor 59 is disposed with a light-emitting portion and a lens exposed to emit light from the light-emitting portion to the recording material and receive light reflected from the recording material with a sensing portion. If foreign matter such as dust or dirt adheres to such a light-emitting portion or lens, erroneous detection may occur.

In order to prevent such a situation, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the cap 10 of the present embodiment is configured to cover the detection face 59 a of the position detection sensor 59 in addition to the nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40. Accordingly, the cap 10 of the present embodiment prevents foreign matter such as dust or dirt from adhering to the light-emitting portion and the lens.

In the present embodiment, a lock 13 d is provided as an operation prohibiting device to prohibit an operation of the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 so that the cap 10 is stably held at the capping position.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the main body 1, illustrating an unlocked state of the operation part 13 b. Specifically, FIG. 7A illustrates a state in which the operation part 13 b that has been locked by the lock 13 d is unlocked.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the main body 1, illustrating a locked state of the operation part 13 b. Specifically, FIG. 7B illustrates a state in which the operation part 13 b is locked by the lock 13 d.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the main body 1 along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device 13 located at the holding position in the unlocked state.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the main body 1 along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device 13 located at the non-holding position in the unlocked state.

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the main body 1 along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 2A with the capping operation device 13 located at the holding position in the locked state. The lock 13 d is an upper portion of the capping operation device 13 in FIGS. 7A to 8C. The lock 13 d is attached to the main body 1 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction (i.e., Z direction). In a state in which the lock 13 d is slid upward as illustrated in FIG. 7A, a space exists into which the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is pushed toward the main body 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Therefore, when the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is pushed toward the main body 1, the capping operation device 13 rotates about the shaft O against the biasing force of the compression spring 13 c from the holding position illustrated in FIG. 5A to the non-holding position illustrated in FIG. 5B. At this time, the operation part 13 b is in the unlocked state in which the operation part 13 b that has been locked by the lock 13 d is unlocked.

By contrast, in a state in which the lock 13 d is slid downward as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the lock 13 d enters the space into which the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is pushed toward the main body 1, as illustrated in FIG. 8C. As a consequence, when the operation part 13 b of the capping operation device 13 is pushed toward the main body 1, the lock 13 d interferes with the push, hampering the capping operation device 13 in rotating from the holding position illustrated in FIG. 5A to the non-holding position illustrated in FIG. 5B. At this time, the operation part 13 b is in the locked state in which the operation part 13 b is locked by the lock 13 d.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the cap 10 is relatively long in a longitudinal direction of the cap 10 to cover the detection face 59 a of the position detection sensor 59 in addition to the nozzle face 41 b of the recording device 41 of the inkjet head 40. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, an upper longitudinal end portion of the cap 10 may be located higher than the top face 31 of the main body 1 when the cap 10 is located at the retracted position and may disturb a user when the user handles the main body 1 at the time of image formation.

In order to prevent such a situation, according to the present embodiment, a longitudinal length of the cap 10 may be changeable. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a longitudinal end portion D, as an upper longitudinal end portion, of the cap 10 is retractable to the other longitudinal end portion of the cap 10. Specifically, for example, the longitudinal end portion D of the cap 10 may be slid or folded back and thus retracted to the other longitudinal end portion of the cap 10.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the main body 1 includes the capping sensor 60 on the recording face 30 of the main body 1. The capping sensor 60 serves as a cap detector that detects that the cap 10 is located at one of the capping position and the retracted position. Based on an output signal of the capping sensor 60, the control board 57 ascertains whether the cap 10 is located at the capping position. Accordingly, for example, when the cap 10 is located at the capping position, the control board 57 controls the main body 1 not to start the image forming operation in response to the print button 14 being pressed. In this case, an unfavorable situation is prevented in which the image forming operation is performed with the cap 10 being located at the capping position.

The control board 57 may perform control to notify a user that the cap 10 is located at the retracted position, for example. Such control prevents the user from forgetting to locate the cap 10 at the capping position.

The present embodiment has been described as applicable to an inkjet HMP. However, one or more of the embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to an apparatus employing another image forming system or method. For example, one or more of the embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to a recording device employing an appropriate method such as a heat-sensitive method or a thermal transfer method.

Although the main body 1 and the cap 10 have been described as separate components, the main body 1 may include the cap 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Although specific embodiments and examples are described, the embodiments and examples according to the present disclosure are not limited to those specifically described herein. Several aspects of the image forming apparatus are exemplified as follows.

Initially, a description is given of a first aspect.

According to the first aspect, an image forming apparatus (e.g., HMP 100) includes an image forming device (e.g., recording device 41), an apparatus body (e.g., main body 1), a cap (e.g., cap 10), and an operation part (e.g., operation part 13 b). The image forming device includes an image forming face (e.g., nozzle face 41 b) that is configured to face a recording medium (e.g., recording material P). The image forming device is configured to form an image on the recording medium. The apparatus body is configured to support the image forming device. The cap is movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face. The operation part is configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position. The operation part is not operable by a force from an object on which the apparatus body is placed.

According to the present aspect, even when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the image forming face facing down, the operation part thus configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position is not operated by the force received from the object. Therefore, the cap stays at the capping position. In short, even when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the image forming face facing down, the image forming face remains capped as appropriate. Such a configuration allows a user to place the apparatus body on some object with a bottom face facing downward without any problems when the user does not form an image with the image forming apparatus. Thus, according to the present aspect, the image forming apparatus is provided as a user-friendly apparatus.

A description is now given of a second aspect.

According to the second aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the apparatus body includes outer wall faces including a bottom face (e.g., recording face 30) that is configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium. The operation part is provided on one (e.g., left side face 32, right side face 33) of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face.

According to the present aspect, although the operation part is operable by a force received in a direction orthogonal to an outer wall face of the apparatus body provided with the operation part, the operation part is not operated unintentionally and therefore the cap stays at the capping position when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the bottom face facing down, because the operation part is provided on the one of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face that faces the recording medium at the time of image formation.

A description is now given of a third aspect.

According to the third aspect, the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect further includes a biasing device (e.g., biasing device 12) and a holder (e.g., claw 13 a). The biasing device is configured to urge the cap to move in a direction from the capping position to the retracted position. The holder is configured to hold the cap at the capping position. The operation part is operable to cause the holder to release the cap.

Thus, the holder releases the cap with a simple configuration.

A description is now given of a fourth aspect.

According to the fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the operation part is operable with a hand holding the apparatus body.

Such a configuration allows a user to release the cap with a hand holding the apparatus body. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the HMP 100 is provided as a user-friendly apparatus.

A description is now given of a fifth aspect.

According to the fifth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the apparatus body includes a bottom face (e.g., recording face 30) configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium. The apparatus body also includes a side face (e.g., left side face 32, right side face 33) extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom face. The operation part is provided on the side face.

Such a configuration further enhances the usability of the image forming apparatus.

A description is now given of a sixth aspect.

According to the sixth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, a position of the operation part on the side face is identical to a position of the image forming face in a direction (e.g., scanning orthogonal direction Y) parallel to the bottom face.

Such a configuration allows a user to confirm the position of image forming face with reference to the position of the operation part. Accordingly, the user can confirm the position of the image to be formed on the recording medium before starting the image formation.

A description is now given of a seventh aspect.

According to the seventh aspect, the image forming apparatus of any one of the third to sixth aspects further includes a cushion (e.g., cushion 50) on at least one of a portion of the cap and a portion of the apparatus body configured to contact each other due to a biasing force of the biasing device when the cap moves to the retracted position.

Thus, the impact is alleviated when the cap abuts on the apparatus body.

A description is now given of an eighth aspect.

According to the eighth aspect, the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects further includes an operation prohibiting device (e.g., lock 13 d) that is configured to prohibit an operation of the operation part.

Accordingly, the cap is more stably held at the capping position.

A description is now given of a ninth aspect.

According to the ninth aspect, the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to eighth aspects further includes a position detector (e.g., position detection sensor 59) that is configured to face the recording medium and detect a position of the apparatus body on the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium. The position detector includes a detection face (e.g., detection face 59 a). The cap is configured to cover the detection face at the capping position.

Accordingly, the position detector is also protected with the cap.

A description is now given of a tenth aspect.

According to the tenth aspect, the image forming apparatus of any of the first to ninth aspects further includes a cap detector (e.g., capping sensor 60) that is configured to detect that the cap is located at one of the capping position and the retracted position.

Accordingly, appropriate control is performed according to the location of the cap.

A description is now given of an eleventh aspect.

According to the eleventh aspect, in the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to tenth aspects, the cap includes a planar portion (e.g., planar portion 10 a) and a wall portion (e.g., side wall portion 10 b). The planar portion includes a planar face (e.g., planar face 10 aF) and a capping section (e.g., capping section 10 a 1) that is configured to cap the image forming face. The wall portion is erected on the planar face.

Such a configuration enhances the rigidity of the cap (mainly, the rigidity against the bending of the planar portion 10 a).

A description is now given of a twelfth aspect.

According to the twelfth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to eleventh aspects, a longitudinal length of the cap is changeable.

Accordingly, the cap located at the retracted position is less likely to disturb a user when the user handles the apparatus body. Thus, the present aspect enhances the usability of the image forming apparatus.

A description is now given of a thirteenth aspect.

According to the thirteenth aspect, in the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to twelfth aspects, the image forming device is a liquid discharge head that includes a nozzle (e.g., discharge orifice 41 a) on the image forming face and that is configured to discharge liquid from the nozzle.

In the present aspect, the cap located at the capping position prevents drying of ink.

A description is now given of a fourteenth aspect.

According to the fourteenth aspect, a body (e.g., main body 1) of an image forming apparatus (e.g., HMP 100) includes a cap (e.g., cap 10) and an operation part (e.g., operation part 13 b). The body is configured to support an image forming device (e.g., recording device 41) configured to form an image on a recording medium (e.g., recording material P). The cap is movable between a capping position to cap an image forming face (e.g., nozzle face 41 b) of the image forming device and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face. The operation part is configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position. The operation part is not operable by a force from an object on which the body is placed.

According to the present aspect, even when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the image forming face facing down, the operation part thus configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position is not operated by the force received from the object. Therefore, the cap stays at the capping position. In short, even when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the image forming face facing down, the image forming face remains capped as appropriate. Such a configuration allows a user to place the apparatus body on some object with a bottom face facing downward without any problems when the user does not form an image with the image forming apparatus. Thus, according to the present aspect, the image forming apparatus is provided as a user-friendly apparatus.

A description is now given of a fifteenth aspect.

According to the fifteen aspect, an image forming apparatus (e.g., HMP 100) includes an image forming device (e.g., recording device 41), an apparatus body (e.g., main body 1), a cap (e.g., cap 10), and an operation part (e.g., operation part 13 b). The image forming device includes an image forming face (e.g., nozzle face 41 b) that is configured to face a recording medium (e.g., recording material P). The image forming device is configured to form an image on the recording medium. The apparatus body is configured to support the image forming device. The cap is movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face. The operation part is configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position. The apparatus body includes outer wall faces including a bottom face (e.g., recording face 30) that is configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium. The operation part is provided on one (e.g., left side face 32, right side face 33) of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face.

According to the present aspect, when the apparatus body is placed on some object with the bottom face facing down, the operation part is not operated unintentionally and therefore the cap stays at the capping position because the operation part is provided on the one of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face that faces the recording medium at the time of image formation.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a user-friendly image forming apparatus is provided.

Although the present disclosure makes reference to specific embodiments, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the details of the embodiments described above. Thus, various modifications and enhancements are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. For example, elements and/or features of different embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present disclosure. The number of constituent elements and their locations, shapes, and so forth are not limited to any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in the drawings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming device including an image forming face configured to face a recording medium, the image forming device being configured to form an image on the recording medium; an apparatus body configured to support the image forming device; a cap movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face; and an operation part configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position, the operation part being not operable by a force from an object on which the apparatus body is placed.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus body includes outer wall faces including a bottom face configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium, wherein the operation part is provided on one of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face.
 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a biasing device configured to urge the cap to move in a direction from the capping position to the retracted position; and a holder configured to hold the cap at the capping position, wherein the operation part is operable to cause the holder to release the cap.
 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation part is operable with a hand holding the apparatus body.
 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus body includes: a bottom face configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium; and a side face extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom face, and wherein the operation part is provided on the side face.
 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a position of the operation part on the side face is identical to a position of the image forming face in a direction parallel to the bottom face.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a cushion on at least one of a portion of the cap and a portion of the apparatus body configured to contact each other due to a biasing force of the biasing device when the cap moves to the retracted position.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation prohibiting device configured to prohibit an operation of the operation part.
 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position detector configured to face the recording medium and detect a position of the apparatus body on the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium, wherein the position detector includes a detection face, and wherein the cap is configured to cover the detection face at the capping position.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cap detector configured to detect that the cap is located at one of the capping position and the retracted position.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes: a planar portion including: a planar face; and a capping section configured to cap the image forming face; and a wall portion erected on the planar face.
 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the cap is changeable.
 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming device is a liquid discharge head including a nozzle on the image forming face and configured to discharge liquid from the nozzle.
 14. A body of an image forming apparatus, the body being configured to support an image forming device configured to form an image on a recording medium, the body comprising: a cap movable between a capping position to cap an image forming face of the image forming device and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face; and an operation part configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position, the operation part being not operable by a force from an object on which the body is placed.
 15. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming device including an image forming face configured to face a recording medium, the image forming device being configured to form an image on the recording medium; an apparatus body configured to support the image forming device; a cap movable relative to the apparatus body between a capping position to cap the image forming face and a retracted position to be retracted from the image forming face; and an operation part configured to move the cap from the capping position to the retracted position, the apparatus body including outer wall faces including a bottom face configured to face the recording medium when the image forming device forms the image on the recording medium, the operation part being provided on one of the outer wall faces other than the bottom face. 